Tire-building apparatus



Feb. 21, 1928.

F. G. NEAL TIRE BUILDING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 27, 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR FF anklinGNeal Feb. 21, 1928.

F. e. NEAL Filed Oct 27. 1922 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Feb. 21, 1928.

F. G. NEAL TIRE BUILDING APPARATUS Filed Oct. 27'. 1922 [NVENT R EaIflflinGNeal ATTORNg Patented Feb. Zl, 1928.

AUNITED STATES'PATENT OFFICE.

FRANKLIN G. NEAL, 0F SPRINGFIELD, MASSACHUSETTS, ABSIGNOR TO THE FISK BUB- BEB COMPANY, OI GHICOPEE FALLS, SACHUSETTS.

MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAB- TIRE-.BUILDING APPARATUS.

Application flied October 27, 1922. serial No. 597,260.

Thisfinvention relates to tire building apparatus. It is useful in the operation of stretching and tensioning the phes or lami- -.nations of carcass material, particularly in building automobile tires. This carcass material is made of strain resisting cord members and raw rubber laminated in bands or sheets. When laminated itis difiicult to handle in the shaping operation for tire formation. 7

The principal object of the invention is to provide a simple and useful apparatus to do the work of conditioning the laminated carcass material for the tire form in which it must be built and used. Other more specific objects will appear from the description of the structure and its functions, aswell as the claims. 7

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side view of a. han'doperated stretcher, in collapsed position, mounted on a floor stand with a part shown in section;

Fig. 2 is a front view'of the same stretcher; Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a slightly I modified stretcher connected with mechanism for power instead ofhand operation;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the stretcher of Fig. 3 mounted for hand operation;

Fig. 5 is a detail of the mounting for the supporting rollers;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an endless four rply carcass building band or pocket ready to be operated upon by my apparatus, but with a part broken awa to show the arrangement of the individua plies;

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the pocket shown in Fig. 6, but. after it has been stretched to the maximum capacity of the apparatus;

. Fig. 8 is a sectional view of a rigid tire building core with the pocket of Fig. 7 placed upon it for shaping and finishing operations' Fi 9 is a perspective view of the tire buil ing core of Fig. 8, mounted on a floor stand or tire buck, and ready to receive the stretched pocket for the shaping operations;

Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a slight modification of the stretcher and 11001 stand of Fig. 4 but in expanded position;

Fig. 11 is a perspectlve view of the stretcher shown in Fig. 10, but in collapsed position, and with the building pocket as it appears on the apparatus 1 after being various modifications is constructed to uniformly stretch the laminated band or pocket of Fig. 6 to the condition of Fig. 7 or Fig. 11,- so that it may be ap lied and centered on the core of Fig. 8 or Fig. 9 whereon it is slqped While under tension to its tire form. he general purpose of the apparatus will be readily understood. A proper understanding of the improvements embodied in its construction and function requires some explanation of the environment in which it is to be used.

Only one step of the many steps in the operations of tire building is performed by the apparatus of this invention. This single step, however, is one of the most diflicult as well as one .of the most important. -It is the step of tensioning the strain resisting members of the carcass when in laminated form so that they can be placed in proper uniform positions, with relation to each other and the tire shape, to do their intended Work in the finished tire. By the use oi the new apparatus this reparation, tensioning, or conditioning of the laminated sheets of cords is done more conveniently and better than in prior practice. I

It has been the custom to build tire carcasses by forming a two ply laminated band of rubberized cord fabric. The parallel cords are arranged in the band on the bias, and adjacent. bands have their biased cords at reversed angles. The cords are held by spaced filler or weft threads, but after the rubberizing operations these Weft threads are undesirable-because the purpose of the rubber is to hold the cords in yielding relation one to another, and the weft threads other portion of the hub 5 to give arms shaped to the core without a the carcass is made with a larger number of plies. The stretching operation is desirable for shaping the band to the core. It 1s not uniform in the prior practice because done.

by hand first at one portion and then at anocket. The presence of the fil'ler or weft t reads resists the desirable rearrangement of the cords on the core in both the stretching and shaping operations. In this coustomary operation of applying the laminated carcass material, the plies are not stretched so that they can be severe stitching or tool applying action to lay the skirts of the pocket against the core. For these and other reasons the customary step of stretching' or tensioning the cord laminations, while at the same time shaping them to tire form, does not give the workman either the convenient operation or the lay of cords most desired.

According to the structural and functional principles of this invention, the workman can stretch the cord laminations in an improved manner by a convenient and suitable apparatus, and so stretched they are in the condition most desired for shaping on the core.

modifications, I will describe the apparatus in one of its simple forms, and one specific way to use it.

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2: A support 1 serves as a rigid support from the floor for a horizontal support 2. The latter is about waist high and as indicated in Fig. 2 has its outer portion offset from its connection with support 1. A horizontal rod 3 extends from .the end of support 2 and at right angles to the support. The stretcher arms are mounted on the rod 3. The latter is fixed against turning. The stretcher arms include two spaced arms 4 mounted for rotation on rod 3. Each arm 4 has at its center a hub 5 and I preferably have a ball hearing within each 4 an easy as well as an even and very accurate turning movement on rod 3. Just within arms 4, additionalspaced arms 6 are mounted on rod 3 and in the same way except that they are fastened to the rod against any rotation. Between the outer ends of arms 4, rollers 7, and between the' outer ends of arms firollers 8 are mounted as shown. One desired type of mounting is indicated in Fig. 5 in which a rod 9 fastened rigidly to the ends of the arms extends loosely through the cylindrical hollow roller and holds thecones of ball bearings while the cups of such bearings are two 7 Before describing the various structural firmly held within recesses atthe ends of the rollers.- This mounting makes all four rollers 7 and 8 freely turning idlers. To multiply the power application of the stretcher, I may use one or two levers 10 with projec-v tions engageable with opposite edges of an arm 4 and an extension for a hand grip gothen slowly turned on rod 3 counter-clockwise. The pocket is immediately put under tension. It is not gripped nor anywhere bound against movement, for the cylindrical rollers 7 and 8 are idlers and turn in contact with and as the band moves. The band is flat in cross section. As it stretches in length it must decrease in width. There is frictional contact of the material with the idlers during the width shrinking movement along the axis of the rollers. This contact or friction would have a decided influence to prevent the uniform movements if the cords in the pocket for their readjustment of the stretched condition of the carcass mate'rial, except for one and possibly two provisionsin the-operation of theconstruction shown, against such .action or distorting effect. By the first provision the material moves over and then away from the rollers 7 and 8 as the pocket stretches, so that with only four small areas of contact possible, and with these maintained onl for a very small interval of time on any given portions of the material, such frictional contact does not have time to affect any given portions of the material so as to distort it. As soon as the material moves away from the rollers, any slight strains set up against the free movement of the band to a decreased width are immediatel relieved. Substantially-all portions of the laminated material are freely suspended during the stretching operation at any given instant. All portions of the laminated material are freely suspended for substantially all the time of the stretching operation. This provision leaves the laminated material. in condition to adjust itself uniformly to the stretching strains without any frictional-or other interference except that inherent in the laminated con-.

dition of the carcass material alone. By the second provision the pocket is kept flat in cross section and is kept moving as it is stretched. That is. to say, there is no transverse shaping of the pocket-as it isstretched and there is no substantial retardation of transverse. movement of the pocket as it is stretched. I do not wish to limit the inveni this limit the weak weft threa carass in less thanone minute.

tion while stretching it. I believe that the invention" in some of its aspects will be found in the apparatus when used even though the pocket is crowned as by crowned rollers while it is beingstretched. However, I do here point out that one very important feature of the preferred form of the a paratus, and in the best embodiment of t e invention, is the provision for stretching the material without shaping it at all (but on. the contrary very carefully maintaining it flat and uniform in' cross section), and w1thout retarding its movement in any way, so far as I can prevent it, to a narrower width as it is stretched. v

As is apparent fromthe drawing the rollers for engaging the hand during the stretching operationare smallcompared with the perimeter bounding all of them. Therefore as the band embraces the rollers and moves over them there is notv sufiicient area of contact to retard thetransverse shrinking of the band as all the circumferential portions are stretched. This fact is emphasized when it is considered that the band moves on and oil these rollers so that no particular portion is in contact therewith forany appreciable time. s i 1 As the arms 4 continue in a counter-closkwise movement, the pocket 100 continues to stretch in length and shrink inwidth. When arms 4 with rollers 7 are at right angles to arms 6 with rollers 8, the pocket hasb'een stretched to the limit of the a paratus. At

d s have either pulled out of any strain resisting position which they originally occupied. Due to the nature of the laminated material and the specific a paratus, it may be found desirable to start t e turning move ment of arms 4 throu h an angle less than 90 to stretch the pocket, then collapse the stretcher and start again, butv turning arms 4 each time through an increased angle until they finally pass through substantial-1y 1809 once or twice. This action increases the movement of the band about the rollers 7 and 8 which I believe. is desirable. The internal strains in the pocket will adjust the elements to their changing condition and without retardation by any substantial con-, tact with elements of the apparatus. The total time necessary for the complete operation even by hand is short. For example, a four ply ocket of cord fabric for a 31x4 automobi e casing, such as is illusbeen broken or trated in Figs. 6 and 8, can be stretched from substantially the bead circumference to the crown circumference of the shaped This is the example described and illustrated.

The time of the stretching o eration is important, because the unv-ulcamzed rubber of the band has a tendency to set. But if the operation of stretching and rleasing the band is performed quickly enough, the band will have sufficient elasticity to shrink on the tire building form. And yet the band will remain stretched long enough to permit its removal and easy application by hand to the tire building former. Then .its elasticity will cause it to shrink about the former. Because of the importance of the time element in the purpose of the expanding device, particularly in its relation to the relatively large amount of stretch given, I refer to it as quick acting; B this I mean that the de vice is particular y constructed and adapted for operating at suflicient speed and to give at the sametimea great enough stretch to serve its fundamental purpose in the tire building operations. The latter. are rather fully described in this specification to cmphasize the peculiar problems overcome by the invention claimed. 1

After the pocket has been stretched once or twice "to the condition of Fig. .7, the stretcher with the pocket on it is collapsed to a condition similar to that shown 'in Fig. 11 (a slight modification ofv Fi g. 1). The. stretched pocket is now distinctly loose avoiding the danger of the two sides f of the rollers increases the hazard in this respect, especially since it makes the removal of the band more awkward. Fig. 11 indicates by the difference between the dotted and full line positions of the band the amount of stretch which has been given.

The pocket is removed before it has time to shrink a substantial amount, and centered on the cor-e11 of Fig. 9 mounted adjacent the stretcher. This pocket, so stretched and applied to a tire shaping core, will by shrinkmg on the core practically shape itself. Its

skirts shrink without substantial wrinkles until the bead circumference is reached. No severe stitching operations are necessary to get the material shaped on the core, and therefore the ing'members is quite directly determined (without outside interference) by the stretching operation followed by the shrinking of the pocket to adjust itself to the core or tire shape.

In the preferred form of the apparatus the pocket can be put on and can be taken ofl condition of the strain resist directly and without any interference. The facility with which the pocket can be apphed to the stretcher, stretched, removed, and applied to theshaping core, is made clearfrom Figs. 9, 10, and 11. The shaping core shown in Fig. 9 may be conveniently supported and building method in which this stretching apparatus is used to considerable advantage is fully disclosed in copending application Serial No. 594,755, Patent No. 1,536,723, May 5,1925, filed October 16, 1922, although the use of the apparatus is not necessarily limited tothis method. For example the stretcher may be used to stretch pockets which need to be stretched to follow any of the prior art tire building methods.

In the foregoing description the purpose, use, and the environment in which the apparatus may be used as an improvement in tire building is fully indicated. The modifications shown in the drawings are useful for one purpose or another as will be pointed out in connection with their description.

In Fig. 3 a power operated stretcher is disclosed. The stand 12 is provided with a horizontal cylindrical support 20 fixed against rotation on the stand as shown. The support 20 serves as a bearing for the shaft 13. On the end of this shaft there is pinned a disk 15 fastened as indicated to the middle of outer arm '14 so that shaft 13 when rotated will positively support and rotate the arm 14. The other arm 14 is rotated by its rigid connection with the hollow cylinder or hub 19 mounted for rotation over the cylinder 20 as a bearing. At the inner end of the hub 19 there is a gear connection with the jack shaft-21 mounted in the stand 12 for rotation by the gear connection indicated with the shaft 13. It will be understood that the gearing from the shaft 13 through the jack shaft 21 to the hub 19 is constructed and arranged so that the hub 19 directly connected with the inner arm 14 will be rotated at the same speed as the shaft 13 and therefore at the same speed as the outer arm 14 connected with said shaft. In this way both arms 14 are supported in parallel relation and are rotated at the same speed as the shaft 13 and both .by positive connectionsand supports so that they may be rotated without any tor tional strains to throw them out of parallel relation. Rollers 17 are mounted between the outer ends of arms 14 and these rollers 17 correspond in arrangement and mounting to the rollers 7 already described in connection with Fig. 1. Spaced arms16 are keyed to the cylinder support20 against rotation. These arms 16 generally correspond to the arms 6 of Figs. 1 and 2 and have at theirout'er ends the rollers 18 corresponding to the rollers 8 except that the arms 16 are short enough to hold the rollers 18 within the rectangle bounded by the arms 14 and its rollers 17 By this arrangement the rotation of the arms 14 carrying rollers 17 may take place through 360 whereas the arms 4 in Fig. 1 cannot rotate quite 180 ac-' cording to the arrangement of the arms 6 with their rollers 8 with respect to arms 4 with their rollers 7 There is another difference in that the lower roller 18, as shown in Fig. 3, has a shaft suitably mounted in bearings held by the arms 16 and on the end of this shaft sprocket 23, so that the rotation of the sprocket in a manner to be described will rotate the roller 18. The sprocket 23 is connected by a chain to a sprocket 22. The latter is concentric with and free to rotate about the cylinder support 20. This sprocket 22 is fixed to the inner arm 14 as by suitable pins indicated in Fig. 3. With this arrangement it is clear that the rotation of the arms 14 with the shaft 13 will cause the chain connecting sprocket 22 with sprocket 23 to positively drive the roller 18. As indicated in the drawing, the sprocket 22 is much larger than sprocket 23 so that the roller 18 will be rotated much faster than the arms 14.

The power is applied to this stretching apparatus by connecting a large gear at the inner end of the shaft 13 to a spur gear on the shaft of a worm wheel driven by worm on a shaft of the motor 'in, all as indi cate one useful and simple power drive for the stretcher.

This modification of Fig. 3 is operated by placing a band, such as shown in Fig. 6, over the rolls 17. In the unstretched condition, the band 100 should make a snug fit while embracing the rollers 17. \Vhen power is applied by the motor m, the arms 14 are rotated in the way described while at the same time roller 18 is rotated. As soon as the arms 14 move out of parallelism with the arms 16, the rollers 18 are contacted by the band 100, and as the band is being stretched this contact is sufficient for the rotation of the driving roller 18 to cause a sufficient rotation of the band 100 about all four rollers indicated, and in a way to prevent the frictional contact of the band with any of the rolls having time to effect the distortion of any given portions of the band as it shrinks while being stretched. With this power stretcher it is apparent that more plies or that 44 are shown mounted on stronger bands can be stretched at a single time, for example, than can be as conveniently stretched by the band apparatus of the character shown in Fig. 1. Another advantage of this modification is the fact that roller 18 causes an increased travel of the band or pocket 100 and on this account the stretching operation can take 1place more rapidly or more conveniently t an by the apparatus of Fig. 1. The power apparatus can furthermore be so constructed and arranged that the character of the operation throughout will be determined by the apparatus and thus be insured against any particular whim of the workman, who does not always desire to follow directions when hand apparatus is used by him.

The apparatus in Fig. 4 is essentially like disclosed in Fig. 3 except that it is hand operated. A horizontal support 33 corresponds to the support 3 of Fig. 1 and the arms 34 are mounted on the support 33 with ball bearings as shown so that these arms 34 may be more readily turned by hand, but more particularly so that the arms 34' and therefore rollers 37 will be accurately maintained in parallel relation, and twisting strains to take them out of parallel position will be avoided. Such strains would be applied if the workman did not pull evenly on both arms in a hand operation of a poorly constructed apparatus. The handles 30 are provided at the outer ends of arms 34, and it will be noted that these arms 34 hold the rollers 37 far enough out to be carried around the rollers 38 held by the inner spaced arms 36 which correspond to arms 6 of Fig. 1. These arms 36 are keyed to the support 33 so that they will not rotate, but the rollers 38 rotate and the lower roller 38 corresponds to the roller 18 of Fig. 3 so that it may be driven by the sprocket 32 and the sprocket 35 in the same manner as corresponding sprockets are arranged to drive the roll 18 already described in Fig.3.

Figs. 10 and 11 show stretching arms and rollers similar to Fig. 4 without any positive drive for one of the rollers. The arms the support carried by the am 42, and in collapsed position, but with the band as it would appear on the stretcher after the latter has operated to increase its length. Fig. 10 is a perspective corresponding to Fig. 1 except that the arms 44 supported for rotation on rod 43 are shown in the position where the stretcher has moved to its limit in expanding the pocket. The arms 44 are long en wvlgh to carr their rollers under and over the rollers on the stationary arms.

Figs. 12 to 19 disclose a modification of the invention, which in -man respects is quite difl'erent from the mo ifications already described. Referring to Figs. 12 and 13, a rigid vertical support 50 is arranged ported on the yoke ing of the valve handle to to carry a yoke 59 fixed against movement in the support 50, and a yoke 60 arranged to move vertically in suitable ways 61 provided by the in-turned metal straps 70-one fas tened to each side of the support 50 and witl. an in-turned end spaced from and parallel to the front face of the support 50 to receive outwardly turned flanges 62 of the oke 60 whereby the latter is supported and guided for the desired movement.

A positively driven roller 58 is mounted.

in the yoke 59 and is driven from the motor m by means of the gear connections y shown. The yoke 60 is supported on a piston rod extending from the c linder 64 suitabl su between it an yo e 60. further supported against movement b a bracket 63 extending out from the front thee of the support 50. The yoke 60 further supports, as indicated, the roller 57 which in this instance is an idler. The pipe 66 leading from a source of fluid pressure eir, for example-terminates in the cylinder 64 under, the piston of the rod 65. A three-way valve 67 (Fig. 15) in ipe 66 when turned to the position of that gure, will admit air under pressure, to raise the piston rod 65 in the cylinder 64 and thus to raise the yoke 60 and its roller 57. When the valve is turned to the osition of Fig. 17 the yoke 60 will be yiel 'ngl y held at the desired elevated position. 4 hen the valve is moved to the position of Fig. 19, the air within cylinder 64 is exhausted as shown and the oke 60 with its supporting piston rod 65 is owered by the weight of t e parts.

Vavle 67 is turned to its various positions by the handle I). which has an extension beyond the valve as indicated in Fig. 12. To this extension is fastened a connectin rod 68 which in turn is fastened to one and of a pivoted switch 8. When the ivoted switch 8 is brought into contact wit the terminal 0 the circuit to motor m is closed to establish thepower whereby roll 58 is operated. It will be seen from Figs. 14, 16, and 18 that as the valve 67 is turned to raise yoke 60, to yieldingly hold it in elevated position, or to lower it, the switche is brought into contact with the terminal 0 by the turnstart the motor to rotate roller 58 only while valve 67 is in position for raising the yoke 60. A. vertically adjustable horizontal bar 71 of metal is carried by the yoke 60, extends across the side face of the support 50, and has a direct metallic contact (or connection by a metal spring) with the metal strap 60 is raised and lowered. he metal strap 70 is conveniently provided with a scale as indicated, so that the operator may very readily determine to what degree the yoke 60 is raised at any particular moment. This metallic bar 71is in line withan extension The upper end of this cylinder is y 70 as the yoke Fig. 17. In addition the bar 71 at thetime it opens switch 8 contacts with terminal d of a circuit including the bell b and the metal strap 70. This circuit with the bell in it causes a signal to be given indicatin that the yoke 60 has been elevated to the esired degree determined by the adjustment of the bar 71 carried by the yoke 60.

The drawings indicate the diameter of Q the rollers 57 and 58, the thickness of the yokes supporting the rollers, and the dimensions and location of the with respect to the band or pocket to be stretched. The front part of the apparatus presents an open arrangement permitting the band to be telescoped vonto the two rollers. The rollers suspend the band with entire freedom between them, for the yokes and the cylinder between the yokes are small enough to avoid any contact whatever with the band.

The operation of this device is as follows:

An unstretched band '100 is placed over rollers 57 and 58 in the same manner as the band, for example, is placed over the rollers already described in connection with Fig. 3. The valve handle 71. is then turned to the position of Fig. 14 to admit air to-the cylinder 64 and at the same time close the circuit to motor m whereby roller 58 is driven rapids ly to move the band 100 over each of the rollers 57 and 58, whereby the points of c ntact with the rollers are constantly change At the same time, the yoke 60 isbeing steadily elevated at a desired speed determined by the design of the parts and the air pressure used. When the band has been stretched y cated in the adjustment of the bar 71 on yoke 60, the ,switch 8 is automatically opened, the

valve handle 72. is turned to stop the elevating operation, and the hell 6 signals to the operator, who may be doing other work for the short interval of time required for the stretching operation. The operator then turns the valve 67 to the position shown in Fig. 19, whereupon the band 100 is readily removed from the rollers 57 and 58 since the yoke 60 is lowered as soon as the air is exhausted from the cylinder'fi i.

The advantage-of this apparatus, in addition to its automatic and power operatedfeatures, is found in the fact that the band 100 has even less contact with the rollers (since there are only two of them) than it has when stretched on the floor rollers found in the other modifications of the invention.

air cylinder this action to the desired degree indi- As in the other modifications, as the band is thus suspended'between the rollers, it is kept flat in cross section during the operation and the oints of contactwith the rollers are kept c anging before the rollers have an opportunity to retard the shrinking action in the width of the pocket as it is being longitudinally stretched. It is thus seen that the work desired is performed in many respects similarly to the way in which the work is done by the other modifications. In addition the advantageous efi'ects desired by the construction of the apparatus in all modifications on account of the small amount and character of contact between the stretching rollers and the band as it is being stretched, is to some degree increased by the construction shown in this modification of Figs. 12 and 13.

It will be clear to anyone skilled in the art that various other modifications embodying some or all of the new and useful improvements can be constructed specifically unlike those shown.

What I claim is 1. A tire building apparatus comprising in combination spaced parallel levers suitably pivoted for power application, a free-- 1y turning roller mounted between said levers at a distance from their pivot, and one or more other freely turning rollers mounted in the apparatus to receive an endless flat band around the perimeter bounding all of said rollers, all constructed and arranged for the movement of said' levers to increase and decrease said perimeter.

2. A tire building apparatus comprising a frame support, two pairs of spaced parallel arms mounted between their ends on said support, one pair being arranged for pivoted movement about the support, and freely turning parallel rollers one mounted be tween the arms of each pair at each side of said support.

3. A tire building apparatus comprising a bar supported from one end, a pair of radial arms pivoted at their middle portions and spaced apart on the bar, a second pair of radial arms supported on the bar against free movement, one adjacent each of the first pair, and freely turning rollers one mounted between the outer ends of each pair of arms and on both sides of their supports.

4. A tire building apparatus comprising a bar supported from one end, a pair of radial arms pivoted at their middle portions and s aced apart on the bar, a second pair of ra ial arms supported on the bar against fiee movement, one adjacent each of the first pair, freely turning rollers one mounted between the outer ends of each pair of arms and on both sides of their supports, and

and s aced apart on the bar, a secon dial arms pivoted at their middle'portions and s aced apart on the bar, a second pair of ra ial arms supported on the bar against free movement, one adjacent each of the first pair, freely turning rollers one mounted between the outer ends of each pairof arms and on both sides of their supports, and power means to turn said pivoted arms about their ivots. i a

' 6. 1g tire building apparatus comprising a bar supported from one end, a pair of radial arms pivoted. at their middle oportions pair of radia arms supported on the bar against free movement, one adjacent each of the first pair, freely turning rollers one mounted between the outer ends of each pair of arms and on both sides of their supports, means to positively rotate one of said rollers, and power means to turn said pivoted arms about their pivots.

'7. A tire building apparatus comprising in combination a air of parallel rotatable pivoted arms, free y turning parallel rollers one mounted between the ends of said arms at each side of their pivot, a third roller parallel to the others, and means to drive said third roller by the rotation of said pivoted arms.

8. A tire building apparatus comprising in combination a frame, a hollow cylinder-extendin from the frame, a shaft extending throng the cylinder, a radial arm fixed at its middle portion to the outer end portion of said shaft to rotate therewith, a hub mounted on said cylinder, a second radial arm fixed at its middle ortion to said hub, two spaced radial arms xed at their middle portions on said cylinder against rotation, and within said two first-named arms, a drive connection between said hub and shaft to turn them at equal speeds, means to turn said shaft and hub, and rollers one mounted between the outer ends of each of the first pair and between the outer ends of each of the second pair of radial arms at each side of their supports.

9. A tire building apparatus comprising in combination a frame, a hollow cylinder extending from the frame, a shaft extending through the cylinder, a radial arm fixed at its middle portion to the outer end portion of said shaft to rotate therewith, a hub mounted for rotation on said cylinder, a second radial arm fixed at its middle portion to said hub, two spaced radial arms fixed at their middle portions on said cylinder against rotation and within said two firstnamed arms, a drive connection between said hub and shaft to turn them at equal speeds, means to turn said shaft and hub, rollers one mounted between the outer ends of each of the first pair and between the outer ends of each of the second pair of radial arms at each side of their supports, and

ond radial arm fixed at means to positively drive one of said rollers. 10. A tire buil ing apparatus comprising 1n combination a frame, a hollow cylinder extending from the frame, a shaft extending through the cylinder, a radial arm fixed at its middle portion to the outer end portion of said shaft to rotate therewith, a hub mounted for rotation on said cylinder, a secits middle portion to send hub, two spaced radial arms fixed at their middle portions on said cylinder against rotation and within said two firstnamed arms, a. drive connection between said hub and shaft to turn them at equal speeds, means to turn said shaft and hub, rollers one mounted between the outer ends of each of the first pair andbetween the outer ends of each of the second pair of radial arms at each side of their supports, and means to positively drive one of said rollers: from a driving connection with one of said first mentioned radial arms.

11. A tire building apparatus comprising 1n combination a frame, a hollow cylinder extending from the frame, a shaft extending through the cylinder, a radial arm fixed at its middle portion to the outer end of said shaft to rotate therewith, a hub mounted for rotation on said cylinder, a second radial arm fixed at its middle portion to said hub, a. sprocket concentric to said shaft and fas' tened on said last mentioned radial arm, two spaced radial arms fixed at their middle portions on said cylinder against rotation and Within said two first-named arms, a drive connection between said hub and shaft to turn them at equal speeds, means to turn said shaft and hub, rollers one mounted between the outer ends of each of the first pair and one between the outer ends of each of the second pair of radial arms at each side of their supports, a sprocket fastened to one of the rollers on said last mentioned arms, and

a chain connecting said sprocket with the sprocket first mentioned.

12. In a tire building apparatus, a plurality of spaced parallel rotatable rollers adapted to suport a flat band, means to separate the rollers to stretch the band, and means operable by the actuation of said separating means for rotating one of the rollers.

13. A tire band stretcher having in combination a frame, a set of pulleys therein to receive an endless elastic tire band, means to rotate one of the pulleys, and positively acting means to shift the relative positions of the pulleys for stretching the band, said shifting means being operable at a speed independently of the elastic force of the band being stretched and fast enough to avoid any substantial setting of the band in its stretched condition.

14. A tire band stretcher having in combination a frame, a set of pulleys therein to a receive an endless elastic tire band, means to rotate one of the pulleys, and positively acting means to shift the relative positions of the pulleys through a cycle of movements for stretching and then releasing the band, said shifting means bein operable at a speed independently of the e astic force of the band being stretched and fast enough to avoid any substantial setting of the band in' its stretched condition.

15. A tire band stretcher having in combination a set of pulleys, means to rotate one of the pulleys, means to continuously change the relative position of the pulleys for stretching an elastic band on the pulleys, said last mentioned means being operable 1ndependently of the resistance of the band during the stretching operation.

16. A tire band stretcher having in combination a set of pulleys, means to drive one of the pulleys, means to shift the relative position of the pulleys while an elastic bandis being stretched thereon, said pulley driving means and shifting means being operable under continuous uniform speeds durgig dthe pulley stretching operation on the an I 17. A tire band stretcher having in come bination a set of pulleys an'd'a frame to support said pulleys for assembly with an endless tire building band, means to rotate one of the pulleys, and means to shift the relative positions of the pulleys for stretching the band, both of sa1d means being operable continuously and at constant speeds independently ofthe band during the comcrates.

FRANKLIN G. NEAL. 

